Final score predictions for Ravens and Bengals in the playoffs showdown
The Cincinnati Bengals Enter the playoffs in search of another Super Bowl run against an AFC North foe, with the Baltimore Ravens coming to play for a wildcard matchup.
And while it’s a rehash of the Week 18 season finale, it’s a good example of the chess-like maneuverings that go into the sport.
Joe Burrow and his offense were erratic in the 27-16 win. They relied on four turnovers to get past and maintain home-field advantage. However, the offense had to contend with a strong Ravens defense. They were as vanilla as they get in order to win this matchup.
However, the Ravens follow the same logic. They rested key starters Mark Andrews, tight end, and J.K. Dobbins, running back. Third-stringer Anthony Brown was under center, and he finished a horrendous 19-of-44. Now, the Ravens will play both sides of Sunday’s game. starting Tyler Huntley and Brown at quarterback.
It’s a little easy to handwave this matchup off as a case of the Bengals just getting back to the normal playbook and Burrow won’t look that rough twice. The Ravens defense is complicated, ranking third with 18.5 points per match. Star linebacker RoquanSmith is a major problem as well as rookie Kyle Hamilton, who is the breakout star. They’ll disguise coverages and blitzes well and show new looks.
That disclaimer aside, it is hard to ignore the fact the Ravens haven’t scored more than 17 points in a game since Lamar Jackson’s injury all the way back in Week 13. Dobbins is an elite running back, but the Bengals have shuttered the likes of Derrick Henry this year with emphasis, so it’s a matter of that trend continuing and not giving up big plays.
Turnover differential is the most important factor. If the Ravens offensive line that now features Max Scharping and Hakeem Adeniji on their right side can reduce turnovers, then there will be no points scored by Ravens defense and very few fields for Ravens offense.
On the topic of Burrow and the offense having another bad game — don’t bank on it. Going into Week 18, the Bengals were coming off the short week from the Monday night game that wound up a no-contest and amid the trauma and chaos was the reality the team wasn’t even 100 percent sure who it would play or if at all in the season’s final week. They then stripped the offense to its core. The Bengals lose this playoff game if Burrow’s missing on touchdown throws and his wideouts drop others again, but it’s hard to imagine any of that occurs now that things have been back to as normal as possible.
In reality, the Bengals defense should have the ability to adjust to different packages. Huntley is a good rusher who hasn’t thrown much lately due to a shoulder injury and Brown has a booming arm. Keep contain on any big plays and trickery and it’s a matter of shuttering Dobbins.
But make no mistake — most playoff games are close affairs regardless. It certainly doesn’t feel safe to predict a massive blowout like the Bengals had over the Ravens twice last year. John Harbaugh’s Ravens are 6-0 in road wild-card games for a reason and these divisional foes know each other well. As the Ravens attempt to keep up, this one may only burst open on a turnover.
However, what is your gut feeling? A few forced turnovers by the Bengals defense gets it done, Burrow is back to sharp play and the overdue Ja’Marr Chase game arrives (with Hayden Hurst getting revenge on his former team notably, too).
A win would see the Bengals move on to the divisional round, where they will either face the Bills on the road, or host the Jaguars at their home.
Prediction: Bengals 30, Ravens 17
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